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A. RECKENZAUN.

ELECTRIC METER.

No. 437,763. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

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ELECTRIC METER.

-No. 437,763. Patented Oct. 7,1890.

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ELECTRIC METER. f No. 437,763. Patented Oct. '7, 1890.l

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PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY RECKENZAUN, OE CLAPHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, EY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, OE PART TO A. J. DE CAMP, CHARLES D. NORTON, OHARLESM.BLANCHARD, s. M. BUOHMAN, JAMES A. PENTZ, CHARLES SCIIAEEER, LINCOLNGODEREY, GEORGE w. nEwITT, ERwIN AGNE\V, AND L. WEBSTER FOX.

METER.

srEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 437,763, dated october7, Iseo.

Application filed August 3, 1889.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY REOKENZAUN, engineer, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at 7 Albert Terrace, Hemberton Road,

Clapham, in the county of Surrey, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improve- Inents in Electric Meters;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others Skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates' to improvements in electric meters of the typeindicated in the patent speciiications numbered 394,880 and 394,881, anddated December 18, l888,respectively; and has for its objects toincrease the sensitiveness of the Ineter and insure the absolutelyaccurate measurement of the electricity consumed.

The invention will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,and in which Figure l is a side elevation of the meter, with thesolenoids in section. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan view with the recording mechanism removed. Fig. 4: is a plan of thedisk, showing by dotted lines changes that may be made therein. Fig. 5is a detail of one form of commutator; Fig. 6, a detail of another andthe preferred form of commutator, with a portion broken away; Fig. 7, adet-ail of the wheel which forms part of the drum which incloses thespring, a portion of the drum being broken away; Fig. 8, another detail,showing` the interior of the drum and arrangement of spring therein,looking from the side neXt to the wheel.

This meter, essentially, consists of two solenoids actuating iron coresA and B, which cores are connected with a lever L. This lever is pivotedat O upon a suitable standard O and carries at its furthermost end afric- Serial No. 319,664. (No model.)

tion-roller R. Said friction-roller is supported from the forked end ofthe lever by means of two small links P, pivoted at their upper ends tothe fork of the lever and at their lower ends 5o to a collar p, mountedloosely around the hub or sleeve portion of the roller R and heldthereon by a ange q, washer, or equivalent means on said sleeve, and theobject of this mode of suspension is to allow complete freedom of motionto the roller up and down the vertical spindle S, which will beconnected at its upper end with the registering or indicating mechanism,and since the end of the lever describes an arc while the path of thefriction- 6o roller is in a vertical straight line, this highly flexibleInode of suspension is of great importance in eliminating friction.TheleverL is balanced by a counter-weight XV in such a manner that theroller R will just drop down toward the center of disk D when no currentis passing through the solenoid. As soon as a small current is allowedto circulate through the solenoids the core B will be sucked up to aslight degree corresponding with the 7o strength of the current. Core Asimultaneously drops down, principally by gravity.

It has already been explained in the previously-referred-to patents thatthe distance through which an iron core travels within a solenoid is notabsolutely proportional to the current owing within the coil; but inthis meter it is quite essential that the radial displacement of theroller R relatively to the disk D should be quite proportional, because8o the consumption of electricity has to be recorded by the velocitywith which roller R revolves and communicates its motion t-o dialssimilar to a gas-meter. Thus the function of the second solenoid andcore A is to compen- 8 5 sate for the varying attractions upon B, andalso to equalize any magnetic lag which might be appreciable and involveslight errors. Both solenoids are energized by the same current, and thetendency of core B be- 9o ing sucked up a greater distance than thatcorresponding with the increased quantity of currentis counteracted bythe core A, whose gravitation effect is reduced simultaneously, sincethere is also here the natural tendency of the core being held levelwith its solenoid. The core A Will keep dropping down so long as itsWeight (gravitation) isgreater than the effect of the solenoid trying tohold it up; but as the current is increased there will be a point when Awill actually be held up by the solenoid, and all tension on itssuspension cord or chain C destroyed. After this occurs the core B hasalone to do the work of raising the lever, and for this reason core B issuspended by a rigid rod G. The flexible cord C and rigid rod G arepreferably connected to the lever L by pivotally attaching their upperends to clips a, straddling the lever, and held to any desiredadjustment by set-screws b. Set-screws s may be used to limit the throwof the lever.

The best positions of the iron cores Vto produce absolutely proportionaleffects upon R are determined by experiment, and the necessaryadjustment can be made partly by shifting the counter-balance Wslightly, and principally by adjusting the length of thesuspension-chain C and the rod G by means .of the threads c and lock-nutd, as shown in thev drawings.

The highest position of the lever is represented by dotted lines, Fig.l. This would correspond to the greatest current a given instrument isintended to indicate, and in that position the friction-roller R will benear the circumference of the disk D, and therefore transmit itsgreatest velocity. The disk D revolves at a constant speed. It can berevolved by any mechanical means; but in the present case a suitablekind of electric clockwork will be described.

In order that the roller R may rise and fall readily with any variationof the current, a portion of the surface of the disk is cut away orrecessed, as shown in Fig. 4c. In this figure the quadrants D D.represent the workingsurfaces, which cause the roller R to revolve byfriction. All the restiscut away. The amount of working-surface isimmaterial, as it does not affect thenalresult upon theindicating-dials.A spring T at the end of the spindle Which carries diskD produces therequisite pressure when the roller engages upon the workingsurface ofthe disk. Periodically the roller drops into the recessed or open partof the disk, and therefore roller R stands still for correspondingperiods, as it does not bear against any surface at such times.

In some cases where magnetic lag can be neglect-ed or wholly avoidedeither by virtue of alternating currents or by substituting coils formagnetic cores, one of the solenoids may be omitted, and then Icompensate for the varying attractions by cutting the work. ing-surfacesof disk D to give the proportional velocity to the roller R. In suchcase theY edges of the working-surfaces D D Will not be straight linesradiating from the center of the disk, but theyzwill be curved or irfregular, as approximately indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.. Thisrecessing or cutting away a portion of the face of the disk causes theremaining portion to form a surface raised as compared with the recessedor cut away portion, against which raised portion the friction-rollerwill at times bear, and while it is preferred to form suchbearing-surface as described it may be formed in any other suitablemanner.

The disk D is kept in uniform rotation all the time while any currentisflowing through the main solenoids by the gearing shown on lthedrawings. This gear consists of an escapement-Wheel E and aself-starting pendulum Z, (shown in Figs. l and 2,)'or the pendulum maybe replaced by a balance-Wheel, which latter is not shown, because theapplication and operation of a balance-wheel in the art of Watch-makingare lwell known land thesame principle prevails here, and one is heretreated as the equivalent of the other. The escapementwheel carries apinion e, which gears into the Wheel V7 forming part of a drum V2,containing a spring f. Instead of this spring its equivalent-as a cordland weight-may be used. This spring is wound up by means of aratchet-wheel V on the drum-shaft V3 and an arm H pivoted with asuitable standard H. This arm H is rigidly connected to an iron armatureI. When this armature is pressed down, the lever H rises sufficiently tomove, by means of a pivoted pawl g, the ratchet-wheel one notch, whenthe spring H2 will retract the arm and the pawl g will hold the ratchet.The turning of the ratchet-Wheel, as described, winds up the spring soas to maintain the tension thereof and cause the system of gears to turnso long as there is any current passingthrough the meter. When thecurrent ceases, the mechanism stops with the parts in such position thatimmediately upon the current commencing again to circulate the system ofgears will begin to move, as before. The following mechanism is employedfor the purpose: A spring f, located within the drum or barrel V2, hasone end secured to the drum and the other end to the shaft V3, on whichthe drum turns, said shaft being turned to Wind up the spring by movingthe ratchet-Wheel V', as previously described.

In order that there may always be a tension on the spring, so that thesystem of gears may instantly be started upon the current commencing tocirculate,I provide means for preventing the complete unwinding of thespring. Suitable means for that purpose may be a stop h, attached tosome suitable part of the wall of the drum, as illustrated in Figs. 7and 8, and a pin h on the shaft V3. This stop and pin will be so locatedrelatively to each other and the unwinding of the spring that the stopand pin Will come together before the spring is Wholly unwound andconsequently while the tension is still on the IOO TIO

spring, and so the spring is always under tension. the stop andprojection come together the rotation of the drum and consequently themovement of the system of gears will be stopped, and also that themoment the pin on the shaft is moved away from the stop on the drum thetension of the spring'will turn the drum and thus start the system ofgears. The spring does not have time to run down after the pin on theshaft is moved from it before the shaft is turned by the movement of theratchet to wind up the spring, as previously described. The rewinding ofthe spring is automatic and continuous 'as long as the current ispassing, and takes place, after the gearing is once started,periodically and just before the stop on the drum would come against thepin on the shaft in the turning of the drum and unwinding of the spring,and thus it will be seen that when the mechanism is once started itsaction is continuous until the current ceases to circulate, it beingremembered that the winding up is through the means already described,whose action depends on the circulation of the current. The arrangementand means employed for this purpose may be varied, as many variat-ionswill suggest themselves to the mechanic, that given being merely anillustration.

In order that the parts maybe started into action immediately on thecurrent commencing to circulate, I provide for a commutator or a numberof makes and breaks in some convenient part of the mechanism, which, forsimplicitys sake, in illustration may be a number of pins ,e on thegear-wheel V and a brush-as, for instance, the spring-metal strip M. Oneof these coinmutator-pins and the brush will normally be in contact, sothat when the current commences to circulate a circuit is establishedwith the electro-magnet K in the same, which becomes energized andattracts the armature I, so as to throw up the outer end of the arm H,and through the pawl g move the ratchet V, so as to wind up the springf. As soon as the commutator-point is moved from the brush in therotation of the gearV the circuit is broken and the magnet cle-energizedand the arm II and its pawl drawn back to their normal position by thespring Ilz. The wire-connections are shown in Fig. 3. The making andbreaking of the circuit is periodical, it being made every time one ofthe commutator-pins comes in contact with the brush and broken when itleaves the brush. The commutator -points z and the stop 7L and pin 7iare so relatively arranged that when the current ceases to circulate andthe parts come to a rest one of the commutator-pins will be in contactwith the brush and the spring will be under tension, so that the momentthat the current commences again to flow the circuit will be establishedand the magnet energized, so as to move the windingshaft of the springto wind up the spring, and

It will thus be apparent that when at the same time permit the retainedtension of the spring to at once start the system of gears, while afterthe mechanism is started the circuit will be periodically made toenergize the magnet and wind up the spring before the stop h and pin 7Lcome in contact, thus making the movement continuous so long as anycurrent passes, and leaving the parts in position when the currentceases to automatically start into action again as soon as the currentis re-established.

Instead of a number of contact-pins I may use a cam N, which rotateswith the spindle n of a pinion N, driven by the wheel V, Fig. 5. Such acam is of insulating material,but has on a portion of its surface ametallic piece `m, which makes electric contact with a brush similar tothe one shown at M. Such details can be modified at will; and by the useof the cam arrangement I reduce or avoid sparking, which to some extenthappens when the metal strip leaves the brush in the use of thecommutator-pins z. y

The preferred construction of cominutator, however, is that illustratedin Fig. 6. In such form the cam N is formed of a disk N3 of hard carbonprovided with two flanges N4 of ebonite, (or other insulating material,)which form a raised surface above the face of the carbon disk, except atthe point l, where the surface of the carbon disk is exposed, and thus acamsurface is formed. The brush in this preferred form is provided atits upper or contact end with a roller N5, say, of hard carbon, which ispivoted so as to turn in a fork secured to the spring portion M of thebrush. This rollerbrush rides on the two iianges N4, except where thecarbon is exposed, at which point it leaves the flanges and makescontact with the carbon disk by suddenly dropping from the flange so asto make the electric circuit, the contact being made once in everyrevolution of the carbon disk or cam. The advantage of this lastconstruction is that there are obtained large surfaces to make abreak-contact, and the surface of the roller N5 is continually changing,so that any tiny sparks will have no eifect upon the carbon, as thereare no points to burn away.

The pendulum can be lengthened or shortened by adjusting its weight Z upor down and securing it by a set-screw or otherwise, and thus the wholeinstrument can be accurately timed and calibrated. The disk D moves thuswith a uniform velocity, and the roller R moves with a velocity due toits radial displacement on the disk. This radial displacement isproportional to the current owing, excepting Where I use one solenoidand compensate for the irregular radial displacement by cutting thesurfaces of the disk to produce the desired period of rot-ation of theroller R. Thus the indicating-dials, (10 to 10,000,) actuated by thespindle S, as set forth in the previously-referred-to patents, must givethe product of time and currenttherefore, ampere-hours, lamp-hours, and,

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with a constant potential, watt-hours, or horsepower hours.

For convenience of using the same type of meter for any voltage, Iinsert a resistancecoil F to suit that potential, the current requiredto actuate the clock-work being a small fraction of an ampere.

By the expression constant-speed wheel or diskf as used herein, I do notwish to be understood as limiting the same to the form or shape shown,as any other shape or form having aV constant axial velocity andimparting different angular velocities to an obj ect having contacttherewith, as said object is more or less removed from the axis of saidwheel, is embraced within that expression and invention.

I-Iaving described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claimisl. The combination, with a register and a motor for actuating thesame, of means for varying the action of said motor upon said reg`ister,'said means comprising a controllinglever and two solenoids in thecircuit whose energy is to be measured, their cores being connected withopposite ends of said controlling-lever, andone of said cores acting bygravity on said lever until the exciting-current in its own coilsovercomes the influence of gravity on the core, substantially as and forthe purposes setforth.

2. The combination, with a register and a' motor for actuating the same,of means for varying the action of said motor upon said register, saidmeans comprising a controllinglever and two solenoids, the core of oneof said solenoids having a flexible connection with thelever in suchmanner to act by gravity in opposition to the other solenoid until theforce of gravity is overcome by the excitingcurrent in its own coils,and the core of the other solenoid having a rigid connection with saidlever, and actuating the lever after the force of gravity on the core ofthe irst solenoid is overcome, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

3.l In an electric meter, the combination, with a variable-speed member,of a lever for shifting the position thereof, a controllingsolenoidhaving its core connected with and actuating said lever, and acompensatingsolenoid having its core suspended from said lever in suchmanner as to act by gravity in opposition to the iirst solenoid untilthe force of gravity is overcome by the force of the exciting-current inits own coils, substantially as described.

4. In an electric meter, the combination, with a speed-wheel, a rollerto bear against said wheel, and a guide rod or shaft for said roller toslide upon, of a lever, a link pivoted at both ends between said leverand roller and connecting said parts, and a solenoid for moving saidlever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 5. In anelectric meter, the combination, with va constantspeed wheel and aroller changing its point of contact with saidwlieel with the change inthe consumption .of energy, of a lever connected with said roller, andseparate solenoids connected with said lever, to one side of theconnection between the lever and said roller and on opposite sides ofthe fulcrum of said lever, one of said solenoids having a flexibleconnection with said lever, and the other a rigid connection,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6; In an electric meter, a constant-speed wheel having spaces ordepressions in its surface, in combination with a roller changing itspoint of contact with said wheel with the change in the consumption ofenergy, and having its force of contact relieved at said open spaces ordepressions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an electric meter, a constant-speed wheel having spaces ordepressions in its surface with the edges of the working-surfaces curvedor irregular, in combination with a roller changing its point of contactwith said wheel with the change in the consumption of energy and havingits force of contact relieved .at such depressions or spaces,substantially as aud for the purposes set forth.

8. In an electric meter, the combination, with a register, a roller fortransmitting motion thereto and having a speed variable With the energyconsumed, and a constant-speed wheel with which the roller changes itspoint of contact with the change in the consumption ot' energy, of asystem of power-impelled gears under constant tension for impartingmotion to said wheel, and means for automatically releasing theimpelling mechanism upon a current being caused to iow through thecircuit of which the meter forms part, substantially as described.

i). In an electric meter, the combination, with a system ofpower-impelled gears for transmitting motion through connectingmechanism to a register or index, of means for stopping the action ofsaid gears and holding them under tension when the current ceases tolio-w, and means for automatically releasing said gears to permit themto start into action and for restoring tension to the impelling meansupon re-establishing the rcurrent, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

10. In an electric meter, the combination, with a system ofpower-impelled gears under constant tension for transmitting motionthrough connecting mechanism to a register or index, and means forstopping the action of ,said gears when the current ceases to flowthrough the meter, of an armature connected with said impelling means, amagnet periodically moving said armature to restore tension to thegear-impelling means, and a commutator periodically closing circuit,with the coils of said magnet to cause the same to attract saidarmature, substantially asand for the lpurposes set forth.

Il. In an electric meter, the combination,

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with a system of poWer-impelled gears for transmitting motion throughconnecting mechanism to a register or index, of astop for preventing thecomplete exhaustion of the tension on the impelling means, an armaturefor moving a member to impart tension to said impelling means, a magnetinuencing said armature, and a commutator and brush normally in contactwhen no current is iiowing through the meter and in position to energizesaid magnet when the current begins to How and subsequently periodicallyclosing circuit, with the coils of the magnet operating said armature toautomatically restore tension to said power-impelled gears,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l2. In an electricmeter,the combination of a clock mechanism underconstant tension both while the current is passing and while it is notpassing through the meter, an armature for moving a member to imparttension to said mechanism, an electric magnet for iniiuencing saidarmature, and a commutator and brush periodically making and breakingcircuit With the magnet influencing said armature, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

13. In an electric meter, the combination of a power-impelled mechanismfor transmitting motion through connecting means to a register or index,an electro-magnet, an armature intiuenced thereby and connecting withwinding mechanism for maintaining the force of the poWer-impellingmechanism, a rotatable cam-commutator havingaportion of itsbearing-surface insulated, and a brush bearing against said cam toperiodically close circuit with the coils of the magnet to cause therestoration of power to the impelling mechanism, said commutator andbrush being normally in electrical contact when no current is flowingand in readiness to make circuit when the current commences to iiow,substantially as described.

14. In an electric meter, the combination,

with mechanism for transmitting power through connecting means to anindex or register, of a commutator and brush periodically establishingan electrical current, said commutator having a curved surface with aportion raised above another portion to form a cam, the lower portionhaving the electrical contact-point thereon, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

15. In an electric meter, the combination, with mechanism fortransmitting power through connecting means to an index or register, ofa commutator and brush periodically establishing an electrical circuit,said eommutator having a curved surface with a portion raised aboveanother portion to form a cam, the raised portion being a fiange formedof an insulated material and the loT portion constituting the electricalcontact-point, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

1G. In an electric meter, the combination, K

with mechanism for transmitting power through connecting means to anindex or register, of a commutator having a portion of its surfaceraised and insulated to form a camcommutator, and a brush having arollerbearing resting upon said commutator, and adapted when passingfrom the raised to the lower surface of the commutator to establish anelectrical circuit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. The commutator composed of a disk or core of hard carbon and aflange of insulated material raised above the surface of the hard carbont-o form a cam-surfaced commutator, substantially as set forth, and forthe purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY REOKENZAUN.

Witnesses:

ToB. G. RIDGWAY,

19 O'hcmge Altet ,Londom E. C., Not. Pub.

FRED DAHM,

19 Change Alley, London, E. C'., Clerk.

